How die-hard couponers do it

@Money July 22, 2011: 5:23 AM ET
Tips from extreme couponing pros

(Money Magazine) -- Even dabblers can master these five stages of extreme couponing, says Stephanie Nelson of CouponMom.com. Here's how.

1. Plan and organize

Use the list of sales from your grocery or drugstore chain (often posted online) to plan your week's menu and staples shopping. You'll need an accordion-style checkbook-size organizer or a binder for individual coupons and a shoebox to store Sunday circulars.

2. Get coupons

Buy the Sunday paper the biggest source of grocery coupons. Dig up more online, including at store sites where you may be able to load coupons directly onto your loyalty card. Get on the coupon mailing list for nearby stores and wholesale clubs like Costco.

3. Match 'em to sales

Clip or print only the coupons that coincide with the week's store sales. Carry those with you and save what's left of the circulars. (Many sites will do this matching work for you). Best not to use coupons unless a sale is on. Be patient: One should be coming soon!

4. Leverage your deals

Favor stores that double or even triple coupons, which can generate a store credit. At first you may have to buy stuff you need without a coupon that's where credits come in handy -- but as you learn the ropes, this will happen less often. Save coupons printed on your receipt.

5. Be flexible

Don't be brand loyal -- go where the savings are. And think out of the box by buying food at places like Target and Wal-Mart. Do sign up for loyalty programs, especially at drugstore chains such as CVS, which print rebates on your receipt that can be redeemed the next time you shop there.  To top of page

Overnight Avg Rate Latest Change Last Week
30 yr fixed3.80%3.88%
15 yr fixed3.20%3.23%
5/1 ARM3.84%3.88%
30 yr refi3.82%3.93%
15 yr refi3.20%3.23%
Rate data provided
by Bankrate.com
View rates in your area
 
Find personalized rates:
  • -->

    Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.